Football chiefs are urged to ban transgender women from playing in women's teams by leading politicians

Football chiefs are today urged by leading politicians to ban transgender women from playing in female teams, in the name of fairness and safety.

Under Football Association rules, players are currently able to register under their 'affirmed gender' rather than their biological sense, a policy that more than 70 MPs and peers have branded 'unacceptable'.

They point out that men are stronger, heavier and can run faster than women so should not be allowed to compete against them - just as adults are not allowed to play against children.

Their letter cites the recent controversy in a South Yorkshire women's league where several clubs refused to play against a team fielding a transgender player after her shot broke an opponent's knee.

Backbench Tory MP Miriam Cates, lead signatory of the letter, told the FA: 'It has been wonderful to watch the success of the Lionesses and the growing popularity of the women's game, but continued success depends on women being able to compete safely and fairly at all levels of the game.

'We cannot ask women and girls to give up places on football teams and in competitions that should rightfully be theirs.'

Her letter points out that unlike other UK sports governing bodies such as the Rugby Football Union and British Cycling, the FA has not changed its policy on trans people in football in the wake of growing concern over the impact transgender inclusion has on women's participation.

The 2016 document states that adult males can play in teams of their 'affirmed gender' if their blood testosterone levels are within the normal female range – and the FA will still consider their application even if they have not undergone hormone therapy.

Today's letter adds that this does not take into account the 'lifelong competitive advantage' in terms of muscle mass, strength, weight and height enjoyed by someone who has gone through male puberty.

'Why should women have to choose between risking serious injury or not playing football?' it asks.

'It is simply not tenable to allow men to compete in women's football on a case-by-case basis, just as it would not be tenable for "some" 16-year-olds to compete with under-9s.'

The letter goes on to point out that excluding males from women's sport is considered a lawful form of sex discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, because it is a way of meeting the legitimate aim of safeguarding female competitors.

It also says women are entitled to dignity and privacy, yet will be 'expected to share changing rooms with men' under the FA's current policy.

'Again this is completely unacceptable, particularly for many women from religious and ethnic minority backgrounds. Yet, because of the often aggressive nature of the campaign for trans inclusion, we know that many women and girls are afraid to speak up, even when they are deeply uncomfortable undressing in the presence of a male.'

The letter accuses the FA of 'passing the buck' to clubs, leaving managers and players are risk of 'personal, social and employment consequences if they question the presence of a transwoman on the pitch'.

Signatories to the letter include Conservative party vice-chairman Lee Anderson, former home secretaries Suella Braverman and Dame Priti Patel and former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, along with Labour's Rosie Duffield and Baroness Morris of Yardley, an education decretary under Sir Tony Blair.

In the recent case cited in the letter, a female football player suffered a serious knee injury while blocking a shot from transgender player Francesca Needham.

It led to at least four other clubs in the Sheffield and Hallamshire Women's Football League refusing to play Rossington Main because of the 30-year-old's presence.

Needham later said she was leaving the side and was considering legal action – citing the FA's policy.

She wrote on social media: 'I sincerely hope that this issue of perceived discrimination against me can be resolved peacefully and promptly, with the full support of the Football Association and the policies they have written and approved.'